Volunteers Ruin Gators' Run To No. 1

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In the end, Rocky Top blared and orange-and-white streamers slid from the rafters.

A couple thousand Tennessee students, almost all clad in those colors, flooded the Thompson-Boling Arena court like a melting creamsicle.

These were signs of a Volunteers celebration, which for Florida and its fans always means humiliation. And those negative feelings came with an exponent Saturday night.

UT's 80-76 upset of No. 2 Florida ends the Gators' season-starting win streak of 17 games. It also prevented UF from climbing to the top of the national polls, a thought that became real when the players returned from their pregame meal to find No. 1 Duke had lost at Georgetown.

The thought would remain with the players throughout the evening and make the final result sting a little more.

"It was in the back of our minds," point guard Taurean Green said. "But we knew we had a tough game coming up. We were just focused on the game."

But as the game wore on, Tennessee and its star guard, Chris Lofton, proved too tough. And Florida proved unworthy of the starting this week in college basketball's penthouse as the nation's lone undefeated team.

UT outrebounded the Gators 40-35 and grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the second half. Lofton torched the visitors for 29 points. But the game's final half minute will stick with UF.

With the game tied at 76 and after a Tennessee miss, Brewer led a two-on-one break. But Lofton stole his lob to Joakim Noah and fed Dane Bradshaw, who sank an open layup with 23 seconds left.

"It was fluke play," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "A broken play."

Down two, the Gators tried to take the lead with a play Donovan had called in an earlier timeout. As planned, Lee Humphrey popped open on the left wing, but his open 3-pointer hit the front rim.

Lofton grabbed the rebound, then sank two free throws with six seconds left to seal the victory.

Florida dominated early, and despite Corey Brewer spraining his right ankle with 9:43 remaining in the first half, the Gators led 42-36 at the half.

Brewer, who went to the locker room to receive treatment in the first half, returned before halftime. He played 26 minutes and finished with a team-high 20 points.